Major parts of Baripada town submerged under flood water

Baripada, Sep 23 (UNI) Almost all major rivers of the area are on spate following incessant rains during the last 24 hours.

Official sources here confirmed that Budhabalanga and its tributaries, Kalo, Sunei, Gangahar, East and West Deo rivers were all flowing above the danger level.

Simlipal Tiger Reserve(STR) received the season's highest rainfall of 408 mm as recorded at Upper-Barhakamuda, followed by 360 mm at Meghasan and 306 mm at Jenabilduring during the last 24 hours.

The river Budhabalanga overflowed its banks early this morning with flood water surging into the low lying areas of Ward Nos seven and eight of the district headquarter Baripada submerging major parts of the town.

Life in the town had been severely crippled due to power faliure and disruption of the drinking water supply.

People living close to the banks of the river Budhabalanga were evacuated and sheltered in some local schools, official sources said.

Baripada-Udala road has been submerged near Astia disrupting road communication between the district headquarter with the subdivisional headquarter - Udala, Kaptipada and G B Nagar.

At least five sluice gates of two medium irrigation projects-- Sunei and Kalo have been opened for the discharge of flood water making the flood situation critical in Gopabandhunagar block.

Kaptipada received a rainfall of 315 mm and Gopabandhunagar block recorded 220 mm of rainfall, sources said.

A preliminary report said residents in at least 20 villages in the block under Sainkula, Baradihi and Jaipur gram panchayats were marooned by the flash flood, sources further said.

Unofficial sources, however, indicated that at least 70 houses in G B block were damaged and an estimated 3,000 people were affected by the current flood. Hundreds of acres of croplands were inundated by the surging flood water causing irretrievable damages to the standing kharif paddy crop.